Science and Technology:
¶ “Biochar Can Improve Soil Health While Capturing Carbon” • Millions of tons of organic waste from agriculture and forestry operations are left to rot or get burned each year, emitting CO₂, increasing global heating. If those same waste products were converted into biochar, they could sequester some of that carbon in a form that can enrich soil. [CleanTechnica]
Biochar (Courtesy of US Biochar Initiative)
World:
¶ “EVs Take 21% Share In Germany In Predicted Hangover” • In Germany, September saw plugin EVs take 21% share, down as predicted from 32.3% YOY, as a hangover from new incentive cuts. After August’s large pull-forward, this was fully expected. Overall auto volume was 224,502 units, unchanged YOY. The Tesla Model Y was the bestselling EV. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Frauscher X Porsche eFantom Electric Sport Boat” • While the latest electric Porsche ventures have kept up on many fronts and found a happy home with true Porsche fans, here is something for those of us who prefer water over land, the eFantom. Thanks to Porsche and the Frauscher Shipyard, Fantom Air has its first production model on display. [CleanTechnica]
Frauscher x Porsche 850 Air Fantom, 2023 (Porsche AG image)
¶ “Commission Completion Of Key ‘Fit For 55’ Legislation, Putting EU On Track To Exceed 2030 Targets” • The European Commission welcomes adoption of two final pillars of its “Fit for 55” legislative package for the EU’s 2030 climate targets. This package of legislation shows that Europe is delivering on its promises to lead on climate action. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Sunny Albania Turns To Solar Power To Fuel Development” • Along southwestern Albania’s coastline, the sun shines brightly, warming the 234,828 new solar panels at the Karavasta power station that will be connected to the country’s energy grid in the coming weeks. Albania gets 99% of its electricity from hydro, but it needs more to avoid shortages. [Tech Xplore]
Korçë, Albania (Renaldo Kodra, Unsplash)
Australia:
¶ “Australian Hydrogen Gets A Headstart” • Announced in the 2023-24 Budget, Hydrogen Headstart is seeking projects that will produce renewable hydrogen or derivatives at scale. Successful projects will be given a production credit for ten years to cover the gap between renewable hydrogen production cost and the market price. [Australian Renewable Energy Agency]
¶ “Hope For Power Bill Relief As Eastern Australia’s Wholesale Electricity Price Tumbles” • Eastern Australia’s wholesale electricity prices fell sharply in the September quarter, a trend that if maintained could deliver power bill relief for households and businesses alike. Spot prices were down 70% after price caps took effect, especially on coal and gas. [The Guardian]
Renewable energy in Australia (Kshithij Chandrashekar, Unsplash)
¶ “Coalition Are ‘Climate Charlatans’ Making False Claims About Australia’s Nuclear Power Potential, Energy Minister Says” • The climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, accused the Coalition of using “the rightwing playbook of 2023 – populism, polarisation, and post-truth politics” in making false claims about the potential for nuclear power in Australia. [The Guardian]
US:
¶ “The Midwest US Could Be A Hotspot For Deadly ‘Moist Heat Stress’ As Global Temperatures Climb” • Large parts of the world, including China and the Midwest US, are on track to become too hot for humans to handle as accelerating global temperatures expose billions to heat and humidity so extreme their bodies will no longer be able to cope, a study shows. [CNN]
Wisconsin countryside (Dave, Unsplash)
¶ “Tesla Cuts Model Y And Model 3 Prices As It Tries To Meet Ambitious Sales Target” • To achieve its ambitious target of 1.8 million unit sales this year, Tesla has to sell a whopping 476,000 vehicles in the fourth quarter. In an effort to bolster sales, the company has decided to implement price cuts across some of its most popular models. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Peak Hourly US Electricity Demand In July Was The Second Highest” • On July 27, 2023, peak hourly electricity demand in the continental US reached 741,815 MWh. This was the second highest since the Energy Information Administration began collecting this data in 2016, and just under high of 742,704 MWh recorded on July 20, 2022. [CleanTechnica]
Texas (NASA Earth Observatory, NASA)
¶ “Wyoming Gives Up Federal Cash” • The Inflation Reduction Act offers states a total of around $350 millionto plug what are known as “stripper wells,” which produce less than 15 barrels of oil a day but still produce significant amounts of methane. They produce about 10% of Wyoming’s oil and gas, so the state is taking a pass on the offer. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Boise Airport, Lander Street Water Renewal Facility Moving To Clean Energy” • Two major facilities in Boise will change over to 100% clean energy. The city is partnering with Idaho Power to access clean energy through its Clean Energy Your Way program. The Lander Street Water Renewal Facility and the Boise Airport will run on green energy. [KTVB]
Boise Airport control tower (Larry D Moore, CC BY-SA 3.0)
¶ “Valley Children’s Gets $55 Million Grant For Renewable Energy Microgrid Project” • The US DOE and the California Energy Commission awarded $55 million to Valley Children’s Hospital, in Madera County, California, to provide uninterrupted care and sustainability. It will go towards the hospital’s renewable energy microgrid. [ABC30]
¶ “Regulators Reject Request To Shutter Nuclear Reactor” • Federal regulators rejected a request from two environmental groups to shut down one of two reactors at California’s last nuclear power plant. Friends of the Earth and Mothers for Peace said in a petition filed with the NRC that some safety tests had been excessively delayed [The Journal Record]
Have a shockingly relaxing day.
geoharvey 
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